Gloria Taylor Mower

Gloria Jean Taylor Mower left us early in the morning of October 22, 2024. Let’s share a moment and remember all that she brought us, taught us and left behind. Gloria had an infectious laugh and enjoyed any silly joke. She kept us all entertained asshe often accidentally mixed up her words with phrases such as, “boys, brush your hair and comb your teeth!” or “pick up those crumbs and put the table in the sink!” She collected all sorts of things including coins, Avon products, Tupperware, quirky toys to make the kids laugh and enough books to open her own personal library. She had a soft spot for any animal and would gladly welcome any of the many pets her boys dragged home, including Leonard the Chicken, Sam the Dog, various goats, ferrets and even snakes. She had a weakness for pastries and refused to even try Krispy Kreme donuts for fear of a potential addiction.

Our world was more beautiful with Gloria’s singing voice and piano & organ music. Gloria was a talented seamstress and she always looked beautiful in the clothes she made. She taught us that talking with strangers on an elevator could brighten their day (and hers), that it’s ok to laugh at yourself and lastly, that if you cook bacon until it is practically carbon, then it has less fat.

Gloria was born May 17, 1937 in Afton, Wyoming to Vernal and Wilda Linford Taylor. As the firstborn on a busy dairy farm where they lived with Uncle Delbert and Aunt Inez, she enjoyed playing with her cousins, tending to little lambs and could often be found playing in the sawdust pile. 

High school was a lot of fun for this popular girl that often held the lead in school plays and had a trail of boys always waiting for a date.

After high school, Gloria moved to Logan, Utah where she attended Utah State University. While working at the cafeteria, she met and later married Melvin K. Mower. They married in the Manti Temple in 1956 and then welcomed four sons; Neal, Raul, Matt & Joe. Her married years were challenging but she still managed to provide fun opportunities for her sons. They enjoyed swimming at the Logan pool, taking car rides up Green Canyon to catch butterflies and making the best cinnamon rolls. During those years, Gloria worked many different jobs but loved best working as a secretary at Utah State in the Natural Resources Department.

Her testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ was central in her life. She served in many callings, most of them providing beautiful music, whether she was the chorister, pianist, organist or primary song leader. She was faithful in teaching her sons, getting them to church each Sunday and helping them fulfill their priesthood responsibilities.

After her divorce in 1979, at age 42, while raising a 2-year-old, and a teenager and working full-time, Gloria returned to college and earned a degree in Special Education.

Her first teaching job took Gloria and her youngest son, Joe, to Cokeville, Wyoming where she was part of the “Cokeville Miracle” after a bomber took over their elementary school. She and Joe escaped with no harm.

A few years later, Gloria and Joe settled in St. George, Utah. She loved St. George and made it her home for 37 years, in spite of the fact that there was always a bead of sweat running down her neck. The children at Santa Clara Elementary were so blessed to have her leading their “Reading Recovery” program. She cared so much about these children and most of all wanted them to learn to love reading as much as she did.

After retirement, Gloria joined the “Southern Utah Heritage Choir” and was privileged to travel with the choir to Europe. 

In addition to her four sons, Gloria adored her grandkids and great grandkids. She wanted them to have a love of reading too and would read to them for as long as they would sit still. Never ever did she visit without books in hand. Her grandkids could also open their own libraries.

In 2019, Gloria made the decision to move to Spring Gardens Senior Living where she was very comfortable. In the Spring of 2024, her breast cancer returned and took over.

Gloria was preceded in death by her parents, Vernal & Wilda Taylor; brother, Brent Taylor and daughter-in-law, Nicole Green Mower. She is survived by her sister, Trenna (John) Gailey of Clifton, Idaho; brother, Lynn (Doris) Taylor of Evanston, Wyoming; sons, Neal Mower of St. George, Utah, Raul (Marina) Mower of Chino, California, Mathew (Kelly) Mower of American Fork, Utah and Scott Joseph (Leslee) Mower of Cedar City, Utah, and 11 grandkids and six great-grandkids.

Graveside services will be at the Tonaquint Cemetery, St. George, Utah, Friday, October 25, 2024, at 11:30 a.m.